Soldier, son charged for pubhouse killings

An Army sergeant and his 18-year-old son were charged with double murder yesterday for killing a police precinct commander and his companion infront a pubhouse in Pasig City last Jan. 14.

Charged before the Pasig City Prosecutor’s Office were Staff Sergeant Gavino Tripoli Jr., and his son, Michael, who is presently recuperating from six gunshot wounds in the body at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.

Superintendent John Sosito, Pasig City police chief, ordered the filing of the charges after the elder Tripoli admitted killing Chief Inspector Danilo Balaysoche, 42, commander of the city police Precinct 8 in Barangay Santolan and his companion, Wilfredo Francisco.

Tripoli Jr., allegedly made his confession before his superior officer 1st Lt. Arturo Jungco, of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate of the Headquarters Security Group (HSG) Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.

The Army sergeant also identified the unclaimed corpse as that of his companion, Benjamin Magrenyo, a close relative. Magrenyo sustained a gunshot in the head.

However, Tripoli Jr. refused to make his confession in writing. He said he will present his side of the story in court. – Non Alquitran